h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: The Idiot's Guide to Crossing the Road - A28761357
Author: Elentari - U202814

Not my usual sort of entry, but there you go.

Yes, I patently stole "The Idiot's Guide to" bit from Leo's entry on pull-ups; hopefully she won't mind.

Although it's a short piece, I'm too tired now to take it in. Could you please check your guide ml, though, as I can't see the right side of the page.

No worries, Bel.

That's strange. It shows up fine for me. Which skin are you in?

Brunel. And usually, I don't have these problems. Do you have a link with a long title or something?

The motorways link is quite long, but only in the sidebar, the link itself is on the word "motorways".

I just tried it in Brunel and it's fine for me.

I'm about to sign off, but could you let me know if it's still doing it when you come back to read?

Good night!

I guess it's the title of the motorway entry. If I recall it correctly from another entry, it would be better if you chnaged that link to an external link, or something.

Ah, ok. I'll try a TITLE tag.

Is that better?

No. The title tag doesn't work because you've left the link as an internal link.

No mention of zebras, pelicans or any sort of designated crossing. Surely, though, they're important for this subject?

Ok, how about that?

I know what you're saying, Pinniped, but I wanted it to be applicable anywhere, and zebra and pelican crossings are British, though I know other countries have their own equivalents. I did mention a dedicated crossing point as ideal if one is available.

If people think it's not covered enough, I'll take another look.

Right, I'm really signing off now, if that's not all sorted I'll change it tomorrow.

WE have zebra crossings here, but I haven't a clue what a pelican is (in re to crossing a street, that is).

It's a light-controlled crossing, with green and red men visible to the pedestrian and ordinary traffic lights directing the motorist. There are buttons that the pedestrians press to register a request to cross, so that if there are no pedestrians waiting, the traffic lights stay green and traffic flow is uninterrupted.

The pelican name is a mangled acronym of PEdestrian LIght CONtrol.

Oooh, thanks for explaining. I was haunted by pictures of pelicans on the road.
It's called 'Bedarfsampel' here.

Is that a bird of some sort by any chance?

No, it's a traffic light (Ampel) that is activated when there is a Bedarf (need).

I'll tell you what, I'll expand the designated crossing mention a bit.

The bit now reads:

"First, find a safe place to cross. Ideally, this is at a designated crossing point where the traffic will stop to allow you to pass. Examples include zebra and pelican crossings in the UK and Bedarfsampel in Germany."

That's probably not plural though. Does it make sense written like that, Bel?

seems ok to me, I've never heard of them referred to in any other way (but B'El can correct me there )

but I think you need to make some mention of traffic islands, they are really a godsend in teaching children to cross. Plus, if you're standing at the side of the road where there is an island, sometimes traffic will stop for you (well, it does in our village) and if you're on the island, car drivers can see you and again, stop to let you over.

I thought we had a guide entry about the different types of road crossings? Because while I'd heard of Zebras and Pelicans, I think I learned about Puffin crossings from that too.

oops, posted too early

Pelican crossings here: A568587

How to use a Zebra Crossing in the UK here: A954713

oh and in Korea they have little countdown lights at some pedestrian crossings so you know how long you have befor the cars come for you.